Blandin on Broadband

So much news on one day! I’m hoping to post more on the new Task Force members in the next couple of day – but in the meantime we have an FCC Public Hearing in Minneapolis tonight. That doesn’t happen every day. And I heard through an email from Free Press that Senator Franked will be joining the group.

Remember it starts at 6 p.m. at South High School 3131 19th Av. S Minneapolis. They are expecting a full house.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an editorial today from FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael J. Copps. It gives a good idea of what they are looking for in terms of conversation tonight…

The Federal Communications Commission has been considering how to ensure that we all continue to have access to lawful information, services, and applications available on the Internet, without service providers blocking or degrading such access, or favoring some content (such as their own) over others. This is not about regulating the Internet. It’s about ensuring that consumers, rather than gatekeeper corporations, maintain control over their online experience.

The conversation about protecting consumers and their access to an open Internet is important — and should not occur just in Washington, D.C. For that reason, when Free Press, the Center for Media Justice and Main Street Project approached us about participating in a town hall meeting in Minneapolis to discuss the importance of an open Internet with the public, we both signed up immediately. We hope you will do so, too.

So far there are 8 comments from readers. I wonder if that is a glimpse of what we’ll be hearing from folks. The comments were all over the board – but I don’t know if all of the commenters would be motivated enough to trek down to South High to chime in.